Detroit's Rajai Davis exults as he heads toward first base after belting a game-ending grand slam off Sean Doolittle.

Photo: Leon Halip, Getty Images

Detroit's Rajai Davis exults as he heads toward first base after...

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A's closer Sean Doolittle, who had not surrendered a home run since April 15, leaves the field as the Tigers celebrate Rajai Davis' game-ending grand slam behind him.

Photo: Duane Burleson, Associated Press

A's closer Sean Doolittle, who had not surrendered a home run since...

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Oakland Athletics' Brandon Moss (37) gives a high-five to Josh Donaldson (20) after the pair scored on a single by Jed Lowrie to take a 4-1 lead during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers Monday, June 30, 2014, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Photo: Duane Burleson, Associated Press

Oakland Athletics' Brandon Moss (37) gives a high-five to Josh...

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DETROIT, MI - JUNE 30: Brandon Moss #37 and Josh Donaldson #20 of the Oakland Athletics score on a Jed Lowrie single to left field during the eighth inning of the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on June 30, 2014 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Photo: Leon Halip, Getty Images

DETROIT, MI - JUNE 30: Brandon Moss #37 and Josh Donaldson #20 of...

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Yoenis Cespedes was the first of the All-Star departures.

Photo: Duane Burleson / Associated Press

Yoenis Cespedes was the first of the All-Star departures.

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DETROIT, MI - JUNE 30: Manager Bob Melvin #6 of the Oakland Athletics removes pitcher Scott Kazmir #26 from the game during the middle of the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on June 30, 2014 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Photo: Leon Halip, Getty Images

DETROIT, MI - JUNE 30: Manager Bob Melvin #6 of the Oakland...

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DETROIT, MI - JUNE 30: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates after hitting a solo home run to left center field during the sixth inning of the game against the Oakland Athletics at Comerica Park on June 30, 2014 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Photo: Leon Halip, Getty Images

DETROIT, MI - JUNE 30: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers...

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DETROIT, MI - JUNE 30: Members of the Detroit Tigers 1984 World Series Championship team celebrate the 30th anniversary prior to the game against the Oakland Athletics at Comerica Park on June 30, 2014 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Detroit Tigers' Rajai Davis celebrates with first base coach Omar Vizquel after hitting a walk-off grand slam in the ninth inning to beat the Oakland Athletics 5-4 in a baseball game Monday, June 30, 2014, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Detroit -- - Playoff preview? Playoff rerun? Whatever the case, the top two teams in the American League took center stage again Monday and the result was another terrific game down to the wire, just as you'd expect.

For the second time this season, Rajai Davis beat his former team. The first time, it was with his legs, his delayed steal of third base setting up the winning run in a game in May. On Monday, Davis belted a grand slam off A's closer Sean Doolittle with one out in the ninth to give the Tigers a 5-4 comeback win. It was the first walk-off homer of Davis' career.

"He's a pesky guy," catcher John Jaso said. "That was a good swing he put on that slider; he didn't miss it. If he could just go to the National League, that would be great."

"He makes stuff happen. He's a high-energy guy," Doolittle said. "When the game is on the line, he's finding ways to wreak havoc."

Doolittle gave up singles to Nick Castellanos and Alex Avila to open the inning. After striking out Eugenio Suarez, Doolittle walked Austin Jackson, the No. 9 hitter, after Jackson fouled off three two-strike pitches. That was just the second walk of the year issued by Doolittle, compared with 57 strikeouts.

"It was a heck of a battle; he did a really good job," Doolittle said. "With two strikes, I thought I threw some good pitches. I went away, I went in, I elevated and it was just a really good at-bat."

Then Doolittle tried to get a 1-0 slider down and in to Davis, a noted fastball hitter. Doolittle didn't put it where he wanted.

"I just hung the crap out of it," he said.

It was the third blown save chance of the season by Doolittle, his second in a row.

"The guy has been so good pretty much all year, he's allowed a little bit of a leash," shortstop Jed Lowrie said. "That's a good offense, it's well documented, and like us, they're not going to give anything away."

Scott Kazmir, coming off his worst outing of the season, worked into the sixth on Monday and allowed only one run, a homer by two-time MVP Miguel Cabrera on a changeup; Kazmir said he shook off Jaso's initial call, a fastball.

Kazmir left in the sixth with a 1-1 count to Castellanos after incurring some cramping in his left calf. Kazmir had recovered after the game.

Yoenis Céspedes left in the eighth with a left hamstring issue, potentially a cramp. The A's will know more Tuesday, but manager Bob Melvin said Céspedes is unlikely to play.

The A's stranded five through the first five innings against Anibal Sanchez, but in the sixth, Céspedes singled to extend his career-best hitting streak to 14 games. Brandon Moss' single put him at second, and Josh Donaldson's flyball moved him to third. With two outs, Lowrie - 10 for his previous 79 - sent home Céspedes with a soft single to right-center.

Céspedes reached on a wild throw by Suarez, the shortstop to start the eighth, and Moss doubled him home. That was it for Sanchez. Joba Chamberlain took the mound and walked Donaldson and gave up a base hit to Stephen Vogt to load the bases. Lowrie followed with two-run single in an eight-pitch at-bat.

Vogt had three hits and is batting .375 over his past 16 games.

In the first inning, Jaso - who had an at-bat at Cleveland earlier this year interrupted by a squirrel romping around at shortstop - had to shoo away a pigeon from home plate.

"That guy, he was in the way," Jaso said. "I'm a nature lover, so I got him out of the way."